9264559

Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Printing Image on Distendable Sheet

PublishedFebruary 16, 2016
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
26 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A printing method comprising the steps of: printing a first predetermined pattern based on a certain data on a distendable sheet; after printing the first predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, distending the distendable sheet printed with the first predetermined pattern; after distending the distendable sheet, printing a second predetermined pattern based on a data that is the same as the certain data on the distendable sheet; after printing the second predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, obtaining a displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern by comparing the first predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet with the second predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet; after obtaining the displacement amount, deforming an original image by a deformation amount determined based on the obtained displacement amount; and after deforming the original image, printing the deformed original image as an image for printing on the distendable sheet.

2

2. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the printing the first predetermined pattern comprises printing the first predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet by using a toner which does not contain carbon black.

3

3. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined pattern includes at least one of lines, dots, graphics, characters, and symbols.

4

4. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the printing the first predetermined pattern comprises printing the first predetermined pattern over an entire region on which the image for printing is printed.

5

5. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises image processing: a first image before the distendable sheet is distended, wherein the first image is an image of the first predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet before the distending; and a second image after the distendable sheet is distended, wherein the second image is an image of the second predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet indicating displacement of the first predetermined pattern in the first image through the distending.

6

6. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: dividing at least a part of the original image into a plurality of polygonal regions; and performing trapezoid correction based on the displacement amount for each of the divided polygonal regions.

7

7. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: selecting a portion of the original image where a spatial frequency is high; and performing the deformation on the selected portion.

8

8. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: selecting a portion where a degree of the deformation is large; and performing the deformation on the selected portion, wherein the degree of the deformation is determined by a type of the original image.

9

9. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a distendable sheet; a thermal expansion machining unit configured to distend the distendable sheet; and a control unit configured to: control the printing unit to print a first predetermined pattern based on a certain data on the distendable sheet; after printing the first predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, control the thermal expansion machining unit to distend the distendable sheet printed with the first predetermined pattern; after distending the distendable sheet, control the printing unit to print a second predetermined pattern based on a data that is the same as the certain data on the distendable sheet; after printing the second predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, obtain a displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern by comparing the first predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet with the second predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet; after obtaining the displacement amount, deform an original image by a deformation amount determined based on the obtained displacement amount; and after deforming the original image, control the printing unit to print the deformed original image as an image for printing on the distendable sheet.

10

10. A computer readable non-transitory recording medium storing a control program of a printing apparatus having a printing unit, and a thermal expansion machining unit, the control program causing a computer to execute a process of: controlling the printing unit to print a first predetermined pattern based on a certain data on a distendable sheet; after printing the first predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, controlling the thermal expansion machining unit to distend the distendable sheet printed with the first predetermined pattern; after distending the distendable sheet, controlling the printing unit to print a second predetermined pattern based on a data that is the same as the certain data on the distendable sheet; after printing the second predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet, obtaining a displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern by comparing the first predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet with the second predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet; after obtaining the displacement amount, deforming an original image by a deformation amount determined based on the obtained displacement amount; and after deforming the original image, controlling the printing unit to print the deformed original image as an image for printing on the distendable sheet.

11

11. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the printing the first predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet by using a toner which does not contain carbon black.

12

12. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the first predetermined pattern includes at least one of lines, dots, graphics, characters, and symbols.

13

13. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the printing the first predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern over an entire region on which the image for printing is printed.

14

14. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises image processing: a first image before the distendable sheet is distended, wherein the first image is an image of the first predetermined pattern printed on the distendable sheet before the distending; and a second image after the distendable sheet is distended, wherein the second image is an image of the second predetermined pattern on the distendable sheet indicating displacement of the first predetermined pattern in the first image through the distending.

15

15. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: dividing at least a part of the original image into a plurality of polygonal regions; and performing trapezoid correction based on the displacement amount for each of the divided polygonal regions.

16

16. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: selecting a portion of the original image where a spatial frequency is high; and performing the deformation on the selected portion.

17

17. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the deforming the original image comprises: selecting a portion where a degree of the deformation is large; and performing the deformation on the selected portion, wherein the degree of the deformation is determined by a type of the original image.

18

18. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after distending the distendable sheet, obtaining the displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern using the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern respectively practically printed on the distendable sheet.

19

19. The printing method according to claim 18 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after printing the second predetermined pattern: imaging the distendable sheet on which the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern have been printed; and calculating the displacement amount by image processing.

20

20. The printing method according to claim 18 , wherein the printing the first predetermined pattern comprises printing the first predetermined pattern using a first color, and wherein the printing the second predetermined pattern comprises printing the second predetermined pattern using a second color different from the first color.

21

21. The printing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after distending the distendable sheet, obtaining the displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern using the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern respectively practically printed on the distendable sheet.

22

22. The printing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after printing the second predetermined pattern: imaging the distendable sheet on which the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern have been printed; and calculating the displacement amount by image processing.

23

23. The printing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern using a first color, and wherein the controlling the printing unit to print the second predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the second predetermined pattern using a second color different from the first color.

24

24. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after distending the distendable sheet, obtaining the displacement amount of the first predetermined pattern using the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern respectively practically printed on the distendable sheet.

25

25. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 24 , wherein the obtaining the displacement amount comprises, after printing the second predetermined pattern: imaging the distendable sheet on which the first predetermined pattern and the second predetermined pattern have been printed; and calculating the displacement amount by image processing.

26

26. The computer readable non-transitory recording medium according to claim 24 , wherein the controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the first predetermined pattern using a first color, and wherein the controlling the printing unit to print the second predetermined pattern comprises controlling the printing unit to print the second predetermined pattern using a second color different from the first color.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

February 16, 2016

Inventors

Yoshimune MOTOYANAGI
Shinji NAKATA

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Cite as: Patentable. “METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PRINTING IMAGE ON DISTENDABLE SHEET” (9264559). https://patentable.app/patents/9264559

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